A Liberian Journey

Creator

Date

Coverage

Transcription

                  Monday Aug 2^nd.

                  Being well we set out this morning for camp. My boy decided the pay wasnt sufficient so he just cleared out on me. Luckily Strong’s boy, Burma, had his brother there so I brought him along. Luckily there was no hitch in rither automobiles altho we wasted many valuable minutes getting ice.

                  The reason for the ice is as follows. A case of small pox is reported from NO 2. by Dr. Shattuck. Therefore all Firestone workers must be vaccinated, and vaccine must be kept on ice. We had ordered the ice the night before but the boys decided that 50 lbs was enough (without a box) when we had ordered 100 lbs in a box with excelsior sawdust. So we had to go down ourselves to get the right stuff. And as we were getting it the chaufeur decided he must get his pay & went off. Such is life in Liberia. B ut at last we left and arrived safely at Du port – Dr. Strong Dr. Willis, Hal & I.

                  The river is so low now that we had to go for about 20 minutes in a dugout canoe to get to the launch which can no longer get up the small stream. Of course when we got there we found that the microscope was not present. Oh well Mr. Ross can bring it Wednesday – and we sent a note back to him. But we were off.

                  During the course of our travels upstream Hal shot at 3 crocodiles but they all sank in the water before we could get to them. One of them was really badly hit as he thrashed about for a while without getting any where. One I think he missed.

                  When we got to No. 2 we left Dr. Willis & picked up Dr. Shattuck & Luggage who had been there on account of the small pox – then off. After about 15 minutes – however – we struck a submerged log & bent the propellar shaft so that the blades cut the bottom of the boat. Such is life. After 15 minutes palaver and 15 minutes work we were forced to limp down stream in the dusk back to NO 2. As the rudder was also shot, we got messed up in the vines twice & had to chop the boat out. But at last – in the dark we returned where we had so recently left – and unpacked our stuff. Fortunately there was an extra bed and net at No 2. and we had a spare cot & net in our outfit so that we could put up Dr. Strong & Hal who were without sleeping outfits. And so we got settled for the night – 5 cots jammed into a room just big enough to hold them.

                  We really had a sumptuous repast considering that we were unexpected guests. Both Putnam & Crum were there – as they were 3 weeks before when we visited them. After supper we played the victor for a few minutes & then I turned in – a little tired considering it was my second day up after a week in bed & my first day out. 

Type

Identifier

Citation